HNI 


UC-NRLF 


T^r 


GIFT  OF 
Prof.   K.    L.    Leebri ck 


jL  A  B  S    @  1 4  f  I  §- 1 


GLASS 


1867. 


SOCIAL  FORCES,     - 


WILLIAMS    COLLEGE, 


1867. 


AN    OKATION 


BY 


JOHN  M.  TAYLOR; 


AND 


A    P  O  E  M 


BY 


G.  STANLEY  HALL, 


Delivered  on  Class  Day— June  27, 1867. 


NORTH  ADAMS,  MASS. : 
JAMES  T.  ROBINSON  &  CO.,  PRINTERS. 

1867, 


> 


SOCIAL  FORCES. 


Once  in  an  age,  says  a  classic  legend,  the  genius  of  ancient 
Athens  comes,  and  standing  for  a  sorrowful  hour  in  the  shadow 
of  the  Acropolis,  watches  with  tearful  eyes  for  some  sign  of  re- 
kindling life  ;  heroes  and  sages  sleep  on,  their  dust  heaves  not, 
and  no  responses  rise  from  the  shrines  of  silence.  Another  spirit 
waits  to-day, — not  the  tokens  of  resurrection,  not  the  oracles  of 
mytliologio  gods  long  fled  from  the  crumbling  altars,  but  the  pro- 
prophetic  words  of  a  living  inspired  priesthood  interpreting  the* 
language  of  a  progressive  era.  The  light  of  these  latter  days  falls 
on  another  Parthenon  grander  than  the  massive  memorial  of 
Attic  skill — the  peerless  temple  which  the  master  architects  of 
twenty  centuries  have  wrought.  No  Pallas  mailed  for  battle,  or 
divine  Appollo  plead  alone  the  nobility  of  art,  but  historian, 
poet  and  philosopher  engrave  on  lasting  tablets  the  sublimest  of 
all  epics,  the  glory  of  artistic  effort.  Humanity  hi  Progression. 
Still  that  suggestive  aphorism  "Know  thyself"  is  written  on  the 
portal,  but  significant  of  a  deeper  philosophy  than  Socratic  or 
Platonic  dialectics — the  philosophy  of  modern  civilization.  An- 
other song  of  triumph  rises  from  the  Forum,  greeting,  not  the 
veteran  legions  of  a  Marius,  but  welcoming  a  heroic  exile,  the 
champion  of  liberty.  Xew  emblems  are  sculptured  on  the  lofty 
arches,  and  the  solemn  chant  of  the  hooded  friars  breaks  the 
silence  in  the  halls  of  Jupiter.  Weary  pilgrims  kneeling  at  the 
tomb  of  Mahomefturn  no  more  to  swell  the  ranks  of  wrarriors  at 
Jerusalem.  The  doughty  knight  inscribes  a  nobler  motto  on  his 
ensign,  .the  legend  of  a  purer  chivalry — "God  and  the  Right." 


538867 


ORATION. 


The  cries  of  a  maddened  populace  fall  on  the  ears  of  trembling 
tyrants,  and  amid  the'  ruins  of  despotism  the'  first  intrenchment 
of  liberty  is  made.  Treason  threatens  the  life  of  the  State,  hurls 
itself  against  the  bulwarks  of  popular  government,  and  dies  in 
the  flame  his  own  hand  lighted.  Ambitious  royalty  lays  its  grasp 
on  the  heritage  of  a  weak  and  valiant  people  and  again  vengeance 
nerves  the  arms  of  those 

"  Who  strike  to  dust  the  citadel  of  sanguine  kings, 
And  shake  the  souls  throned  on  their  stony  hearts." 

Thus  the  august  drama  of  human  history  proceeds,  "The 
grand  epic  of  which  God  is  the  poet,  humanity  the  hevo,  and  the 
historian  the  philosophical  interpreter."  Man  is  the  visible  actor, 
and,  like  his  own  restless,  changeful  nature,  the  periods  of  his  de- 
velopment are  diverse,  inconstant  and  original  in  character. 
Strength,  heroism  and  truth  are  the  bold, -earnest  utterances  of 
one  generation;  weakness,  cowardice  and  falsehood  the  shameless 
stammerings  of  another.  Conflict,  stern  and  pitiless,  fills  the 
weary  years  with  anguish  and  despair ;  peace,  mild  and  merciful, 
lulls  the  warring  elements,  and  nurtures  the  life  of  the  social  or- 
ganism. One  era  is  radical,  another  conservative  ;  one  religious 
and  reflective,  another  skeptical  and  inventive,  each  stands  encir- 
cled by  its  own  products,  and  passes  into  the  collective  expe- 
rience of  the  race.  Defined  in  their  relations  to  human  interest 
by  their  richness  or  poverty  in  rational  and  moral  excellence,  the 
ages  marshal  themselves  under  one  increasing  purpose,  and  ever 
wait  the  verdict  of  the  future. 

Motion,  the  law  and  condition  of  the  natural  world,  rises  in 
full  authority  to  the  realm  of  intelligence.  Onward  to  the  end  is 
the  decree  to  the  requirements  of  which  everything  must  come. 
Circumstance  renders  no  protection,  action  governs  all.  Matter 
and  mind  under  the  necessity  of  constant  movement  do  not  be- 
come chaotic.  A  vital  agent  regulates  growth,  imposes  method,, 
and  gives  direction  to  impulse.  Gravitation,  cohesion  and  chem- 
ical affinity  are  ever  the  same.  Thought  recognizes  the  relation, 
and  its  phases  become  definite  and  intelligible.  Uniformity  thus 
arises,  the  stronghold  of  rational  inquiry,  the  basis  of  intellectual 
progress.  Physical,  mental  and  moral  phenomena  yield  to  pa- 
tient labor  the  secret  of  their  regularity,  and  farther  authority  is 
given  to  scientific  deduction.  A  fact  or  generalization  forever 
true  and  unalterable  is  the  noblest  offering  of  genius  to  the  cul- 
ture of  humanity.  Uniform  motion  in*  animate  and  inanimate  ex- 


ORATION. 


istence  is  simply  a  result.  Some  efficient,  organic .  power  lies 
beyond  the  visible  entity,  vitalizing  and  .controlling  its  develop- 
ment. This  unseen,  immutable  cogency  quickening  nature  and 
transforming  intellect  and  soul,  is  force.  Skepticism  masked  in 
plausibility  and  sophism  chafes  its  finger-ends  against  the  eternal 
granite  of  God's  truth,  and  bids  men  worship  the  hideous  image 
of  a  cold,  visionary  abstraction.  Faith,  proud  in  the  strength  of 
rational  intuitions,  and  conscious  of  its  relations  strips  the  gilded 
covering  from  the'"whited  sepulchre"  of  unbelief,  and  assigns  to 
force  its  legitimate  place  as  merely  instrumental  in  the  completion 
of  a  sensible  design.  Simple,  permanent  and  capable,  force  urges 
on  the  material  and  immaterial  creations  and  ever  acts  in  definite 
directions. 

Well  has  the  philosophic  Humboldt  said  that  "  Earth  holds  up 
to  her  master  no  fruit  but  the  .finished  man."  To  this  broad  truth 
antiquity  bears  witness,  and  in  its  service  the  last  generation  of 
the  race  will  toil,  agonize  and  perish.  Sentient,  responsible  and 
immortal,  man  stands  the  central  figure  in  the  universe,  the  glory 
of  history,  the  worth  of  philosophy,  the  enduring  pyramid  around 
which  other  forms  of  being  crumble  and  fade, 

"Like  the  baseless  fabric  of  a  vision." 

Human  nature  develops  by  conflict  and  association.  The  antag- 
onism of  intellect  to  intellect,  of  soul  to  soul,  reveals  the  highest 
energies  of  thought  and  action.  This  condition  is  met  in  the  so- 
cial state,  the  unity  of  human  interest.  The  individual,  passing 
into  general  truths,  preserves  its  originalitv  and  integrity.  Thus, 
society  shaping  character  to  a  common  standard,  respects  the 
dignity  and  value  of  natural,  intrinsic  merit,  and  nothing  more. 
The  influences  which  govern  the  tendencies  of  men,  urging  pri- 
marily union  of  effort,  giving  law  to  popular  measures,  defining 
the  order  of  mental  progression,  imparting  tone  and  volume  to 
moral  culture,  and  dictating  the  management  of  social  economics 
are  of  radical  importance,  and  properly  termed  Social  Forces. 

Mind,  in  its  search  for  truth  ever  attaches  itself  to  authority 
and  example.  Out  of  the  past,  dead  in  its  forms,  yet  living  in  its 
products,  the  system,  vigor  and  inspiration  of  the  present  always 
come.  Experience  complete  and  suggestive,  is  the  inheritance 
of  the  ages,  and  progress  never  ignores 

"  The  great  of  old  ; 

The  dead  but  sceptered  sovereigns  who  still  rule 

Our  spirits  from  their  urns." 


ORATION. 


Antiquity  veils  the  common-place  and'  transient  features  of  its 
epochs  and  leaves  only  symbols  of  strength,  grand  statues  with 
the  logic  of  events  fixed  forever  on  their  chiseled  lips.  In  these 
microcosrnic  deductions  the  history  of  society  is  reflected,  and 
the  action  of  the  social  forces  in  our  own  times  is  made  clearer  by 
their  analysis.  Phidias  was  more  than  a  sculptor,  for  his  genius 
transcending  the  range  of  art  has  embodied  in  beautiful  emblems 
the  growth  and  essence  of  Grecian  character.  Greek  culture  was 
the  flower  and  fruit  of  the  inner  life  of  man.  Individuality  was 
the  first  love,  and  its  maintenance  a  duty.  The  esthetic  nature 
shot  into  maturity  flushed  with  the  radiance  of  faultless  beauty- 
Science,  religion  and  government,  invited  catholic  opinion  and 
inspired  the  Greek  with  the  dignity  of  manhood,  l-he  citizen 
carried  into  popular  action,  private  principles  and  a  just  sense  of 
personal  liberty.  Civil  and  military  discipline  regulated  enthusi- 
asm and  rendered  national  movements  harmonious  and  delibera- 
tive. Law,  the  expression  of  human  character,  secured  every 
advance  towards  human  freedom.  In  the  firm  alliance  of  public 
sentiment  to  liberal  ideas  of  human  rights  and  privileges,  and  a 
devotion  to  liberty  in  prosperity  and  disaster,  the  forces  which 
wrought  from  barbarism  an  Athenian  civilization,  have  left  the 
noblest  triumph  of  their  power,  the  best  gift  of  Hellenic  culture 
to  the  historic  experience  of  man. 

Rude  plays  in  Saturnian  measure,  chanted  in  the  open  fields 
were  the  prophetic  omens  of  another  order  of  events,  another 
conflict  of  energies  developing  the  capacities  and  abilities  of  a 
sovereign  nationality.  The  world  was  a  reality  to  the  Roman, 
as  the  sphere  of  his  action  and  toil.  To  him,  the  valuable  was 
the  actual  and  practical,  not  the  speculative  and  fanciful.  To 
live  for  the  extension,  and  die  for  the  preservation  of  the  State 
was  the  first  duty  and  highest  privilege  of  the  citizen.  The 
State,  with  its  sovereignty  of  law  and  supremacy  of  rule,  the 
State  at  home  and  abroad,  he  could  never  exclude  from  his  mind. 
Valor,  wisdom  and  glory  exalt  the  citizen  as  they  exalt  the  com- 
monwealth. Whether  a  Romulus  or  Numa,  Regulus  or  Cato, 
Cicero  or  Antoninus,  the  controlling  element  in  the  Roman's  ac- 
tion, his  faith  in  religion,  his  heroism  in  battle,  his  joy  in  peace 
was  national  honor.  '  Love  of  Freedom  urging  the  Greek  to  the 
full  expansion  of  his  powers,  and  the  honor  of  the  State  consti- 
tuting the  worth  of  Roman  endeavor,  are  the  historic  social 
fruits  of  the  classic  civilizations.  The  veiled  prophet  of  Khor- 


ORATION. 


assan  was  accustomed  to  hide  his  face  from  the  worshippers  at  his 
feet  when  uttering  his  predictions.  Thus  through  a  thousand 
years  of  human  history,  the  voice  alone  of  Truth  was  heard  amid 
the  storms  of  passion,  witnessing  her  existence,  and  telling  that 
humanity  advanced.  Men  were  the  unconscious  servants  of  un- 
seen forces  working  silently  and  surely  ultimate  good  from  the 
nameless  evils  of  social  dissolution.  Phillips  has  well  said  that 
"  The  track  of  God's  thunderbolt  from  iniquity  to  justice  is  a 
straight  line,  and  the  Church  or  State  that  cannot  stand  it  must 
get  out  of  the  way.''  Society  in  the  medieval  ages,  shaken  to 
the  center  by  political  and  moral  revolutions,  still  forced  its  way 
to  a  higher  culture,  and  held  fast  the  vital  principles  of  social 
growth.  Gladly  we  turn  from  the  pitiable  paralysis  to  the  health- 
ful activity  of  man's  best  energies  bearing  him  to'vard  a  higher 
plane  of  intellectual  and  spiritual  preeminence.  This  condition 
of  progress  was  the  emphatic  feature  in  the  era  of  Elizabeth — 
an  era  unsurpassed  in  originality  of  genius  and  innate  power  of 
thought  and  invention,  an  era  of  ceaseless  action  and  enlarge- 
ment of  the  resources  of  the  human  faculties,  the  era  of  Spenser, 
Shakespeare,  Milton  and  Bacon,  an  era  the  glory  of  which  shall 
fade 

"  When  all  which  can  perish  of  Genius  dies." 

Thus  the  forces  of  society  push  to  the  surface  of  a  genera- 
tion's history  some  general  truth,  some  radical  idea  the  result  of 
its  entire  experience.  The  century  just  behind  us,  more  brilliant 
in  the  light  of  the  preceding  period  than  in  its  own,  and  preg- 
nant with  impulse  and  suggestion,  was  prophetic  of  the  indepen- 
dent creative  spirit,  which  gave  new  vigor  and  method  to  science » 
philosophy  and  art,  opened  new  fields  of  enterprise,  and  made 
way  for  the  social  agitation  now  testing  the  virtue  and  stability 
of  civilized  mankind. 

Some  central  thought  controls  every  individual  and  national 
life.  This  thought  in  republican  communities  is  liberty,  and  lib- 
erty like  charity  begins  at  home.  The  influences  which  make 
the  character  of  our  people  as  it  is,  and  measure  the  value  of  the 
age  to  the  general  improvement  of  the  race,  stand  first  in  the  or- 
der of  rational  inquiry.  It  is  the  work  of  the  philosopher  to 
crowd  himself  through  the  exterior  of  society  and  bring  to  light 
the  progressive  elements  of  human  nature  with  their  modes  of 
action.  Another  process  of  reasoning  deals  with  external  facts, 
takes  men  at  their  word,  and  reads  from  the  unerring  surface- 


ORATION. 


signs  the  condition  of  affairs  within.  The  latter  method  is  the 
property  of  all  and  becomes  more  accurate  as  observation  be- 
comes keener  and  more  discriminating.  We  are  surrounded  by 
uniform  courses  of  events,  and  every  circumstance  favors  analy- 
sis and  criticism.  Law,  freedom  of  opinion  and  general  intel- 
ligence give  full  play  to  the  social  mechanism  and  render  every 
motive  perceptible. 

The  language  of  the  last  Olympiad  needs  no  interpreter.  It 
comes  to  us  with  a  melancholy,  a  pathos,  which  while  it  grieves, 
still  soothes.  The  soiled  uniform  and  rusted  saber  which  hang 
by  many  a  cottage  fireside  stir  sad  memories  and 

"Thoughts  that  do  often  lie  too  deep  for  tears." 

Nobler  than  all  heraldic  blazonry  are  these  memorials,  for  they 
tell  of  bondage  broken  and  liberty  triumphant  evermore.  Yes, 
and  their  meaning  stops  not  here,  they  are  typical  of  a  stern  re- 
ality, the  symbols  of  a  force,  marking  every  epoch,  and  crushing 
social  fabrics  in  its  iron  hands.  The  logic  of  steel  is  conclusive, 
and  from  its  terrible  decision  there  is  no  appeal.  In  the  best 
and  worst  of  causes  its  authority  is  exerted,  and  its  liberty  of 
action  strengthened  by  constant  use.  Argument,  too  weak  to 
produce  conviction,  too  proud  to  own  its  infirmity,  passion  vin- 
dictive, impetuous  and  reckless  ignore  reason  and  give  occasion 
for  the  arbitrament  of  arms.  Sovereign  in  its  influence  and 
dreadful  in  its  action,  the  sword  cuts  a  wide  path  for  the  civiliza- 
tions and  has  just  now  opened  a  new  prospect  toward  the  myste- 
rious horizon  of  the  future  where  strange  spectacles  await  a 
nearer  vision. 

Every  one,  says  Cervantes,  is  as  God  made  him  and  oftentimes 
a  great  deal  worse.  It  is  perhaps  well  that  no  provision  is  made 
in  this  assertion  for  improving  on  the  original  standard.  The 
Decalogue  measures,  if  it  does  not  prevent,  sin.  Vice  necessi- 
tates law,  and  law  meets  its  violation  with  penalties.  Penal  re- 
tribution accommodates  itself  to  degrees  in  crime.  Confinement 
and  loss  of  life  are  the  general,  legal  prescriptions  for  social  dis- 
eases. Granite  walls,  bolts  and  bars  are  stong  remedial  agents 
and  hold  out  great  inducements  to  labor.  The  prison  is  the  pur- 
gative force  of  society,  and  properly  the  physical  expression  of 
justice.  The  Towers,  Bastiles  and  Tombs  of  the  world  have 
been  great  educators.  Human  nature,  desperate  and  cunning, 
laughs  at  securities  and  boldly  lodges  itself  in  the  very  strong- 
hold for  the  detection  of  its  deceits.  In  a  crowded  population, 


ORATION. 


immorality  is  wise  and  crafty  in  its  approaches.  Public  safety  is 
nominal  in  the  care  of  guardians  shielding  in  the  mask  of  office 
the  vocation  of  the  criminal.  Artful  dodgers  plunder  the  pock- 
ets of  the  Brownlows,  and  Oliver  Twists  wonder  in  dungeon 
cells  at  the  guiles  of  men.  The  homeless,  the  helpless,  the  starv- 
ing, fill  the  institution  of  discipline,  the  willful  bankrupt,  the  for- 
ger and  the  "  doctors  of  chances  "  go  scot  free.  Education  must 
ultimately  remove  social  corruption,  but  now  needs  the  strong 
alliance  of  legal  punishment  of  crime  to  stem  the  current  of  hu- 
man iniquity  ever  setting  toward  the  yawning  chasm  of  utter 
degradation. 

There  is  wisdom  in  Byron's  thought  that  "  Mammon  wins  his 
way  where  £>eraphs  might  despair."  Utility  is  a  radical  idea  in 
the  economy  of  society.  Its  legitimate  function  is  the  measure- 
ment of  products  by  their  actual  value  in  the  service  of  man. 
Confined* to  this  sphere  of  action,  its  results  are  invaluable;  be- 
yond it,  utility  is  the  flimsy  texture  in  which  the  smallest  speci- 
mens of  humanity  seek  to  hide  themselves.  In  no  respect  has 
utilitarian  sentiment  been  so  much  abused  as  in  the  wild  ambition 
of  men  to  coin  body  and  soul  into  the  semblance  of  that  ancient 
metalic  curiosity — the  dollar.  A  philosopher  in  search  of  the 
motives  in  human  effort,  or  linguist  seeking  the  unique  in  litera- 
ture, can  enter  the  temple  of  the  "  Bulls  and  Bears"  and  in  the 
guttural  jargon  of  the  gold  room  have  every  doubt  dispelled  and 
every  longing  satisfied.  No  scruples  harass  the  conscience  mad 
with  love  of  gain,  and  no  sad  plea  can  move  the  stony  heart  of 
avarice.  An  essential  element  in  progress,  and,  in  itself,  a  good, 
wealth  wastes  the  frame,  debases  the  intellect,  deforms  the  soul, 
and  hurries  poor  infatuated  man  to  the  hungry  grave  of  oblivion, 
writing  for  him  the  fitting  epitaph  that 

"Nothing  in  his  life  became  him 
Like  the  leaving  it." 

Limitless  in  its  influence,  and  rich  in  resources,  this  social  force 
carries  intrepidly  forth  to  their  issue  the  tendencies  of  human 
nature. 

The  republican  simplicity  of  fig-leaves,  would  doubtless  blush 
to  own  its  purpose  in  the  autocratic  complexity  of  things  which 
now  are  plastered,  pasted,  painted,  tied  and  hung  on  the  outer 
man.  Based  primarily  on  necessity  and  living  only  in  its  slender 
hold  on  novelty,  Fashion  disregards  the  dictates  of  comfort, 
reason  and  taste,  transforming  men  and  women  into  walking  ex- 


10  ORATION. 


positions  of  the  products  of  the  earth.  The  stylish  pageants  of 
female  loveliness  which  move  along  the  public  promenades  to-day 
are  fine  commentaries  of  Goldsmith's  lines, 

"  Man  wants  but  little  here  below, 
Nor  wants  that  little  long." 

Not  less  tasteless  and  ridiculous  are  the  decorations  of  the 
sterner  sex,  displaying  with  equal  liberality  the  rounded  and 
shrunken  features  of  the  human  organism,  and  necessitating  ex- 
treme care  in  the  process  of  locomotion.  These  modes  in  dress 
are,  of  course,  comfortable,  elegant  and  neat;  they  are  also  fash- 
ionable. Fashion  does  not  expend  itself  in.  the  embellishment  of 
the  person.  Its  influence  gives  tone  to  popular  education,  and 
tinges  social  intercourse  with  the  hues  of  a  sickly  sentimental- 
ism.  Propriety,  like  consistency  is  a  jewel  and  prevents  taste 
from  falling  into  either  extreme,  vulgarity  in  excess  of  ornament, 
or  conceited  plainness. 

There  is  a  sad  story  in  Venetian  history  that  has  moved  many 
a  heart,  and  often  employed  the  poet's  pen,  and  painter's  pencil. 
It  is  that  of  an  old  man  grown  gray  in  the  service  of  the  State 
and  honored  with  its  noblest  gift.  He  was  Doge  of  Venice. 
Convicted  of  treason,  he  lost  his  life  and  suffered  a  penalty  which 
will  endure  as  long  as  Venice  is  remembered.  In  the  spot  where 
his  portrait  should  have  hung  in  the  line  of  illustrious  Doges 
rests  an  empty  frame  draped  in  a  pall  of  black.  Marino  Faliero's 
fate  was  the  outgrowth  of  asocial  force  which  calls  itself  opinion. 
Individual  sentiment,  education,  belief  and  prejudice,  harmon- 
ized by  comparison  and  association  become  general  representa- 
tive thought — a  tribunal  before  which  society  is  arraigned  with 
the  dignity  and  severity  of  law.  In  itself  a  result,  public  opin- 
ion utilizes  all  its  elements  and  goes  forth  to  its  'field  of  action  a,s 
an  independent  agent  clothed  in  the  majesty  of  conscious  strength. 
Patriotism,  enthusiasm,  fanaticism  and  justice  are  some  of  its  ex- 
pressions. The  fagot,  stake,  wrack,  dungeon,  and  hangman's 
noose  are  the  instruments  of  its  purposes.  Its  deep  tones  are 
borne  upward  from  the  centuries  laden  with  the  hero's  song  of 
triumph  and  the  martyr's  cry  of  suffering.  Public  opinion  pois- 
ons Socrates  in  the  name  of  virtue,  stabs  Caesar  in  the  name  of 
liberty,  beheads  Marie  Antoinette  in  the  name  of  equality,  and 
hangs  John  Brown  in  the  name  of  justice.  State  and  Church 
yield  to  its  imperious  mandates  and  are  shattered  by  the  strokes 
of  its  anger.  Woe  to  the  revolutionist  who  is  not  a  creature  of 


ORATION.  1 1 


the  revolution ;  and  to  private-  sentiment  that  is  not  a  declara- 
tion of  popular  will.  Radical  and  decisive  in  its  action,  regat  in 
its  authority,  and  momentous  in  its  influences,  public  opiuion  ev- 
er leads  civilization,  and  forces  into  its  service  the  energies  of 
communities  and  nations. 

The  accumulation  of  power  on  a  single  point  is  a  historic 
stronghold  of  success  and  method  of  action.  The  lever,  wedge 
and  pully  are  instances  of  this  principle  in  mechanics.  Massing 
forces  on  the  enemy's  center  is  the  final  movement  in  plans  of 
battle.  Unity  of  effort  and  purpose  gives  worth  and  stability  to 
social  institutions.  Society  necessitates  rules  of  conduct  and 
imposes  regulations  for  the  common  welfare.  These  rules 
and  regulations,  in  primitive  times,  simple  and  transient,  be- 
come complex  and  permanent,  a  system  of  laws,  the  vast 
political  machinery  of  empires  and  republics.  Thus  govern- 
ment originates,  in  the  virtue  and  intelligence  of  which  lie 
the  conditions  of  progress.  Order,  culture  and  discipline 
are  its  ends,  the  statesman  its  oracle,  and  genius  its  faithful 
servant.  The  plain  theory  of  republican  government  is,  that 
the  people  part  with  a  portion  of  their  natural  rights  to  ob- 
tain increased  protection  of  the  rest,  and  these  rights  thus  part- 
ed with,  are  the  power  of  the  State.  This  system  renders  the 
citizen  vigilant,  active  and  ambitious,  and  stimulates  industry 
and  enterprise.  Mankind  love  freedom,  truth  and  justice,  and 
the  institutions  which  nurture  these,  quicken  the  general  intellect. 
Monarchy,  cold  and  motionless,  bound  in  the  chains  of  an  habit- 
ual conservatism,  remains  passive  and  receptive,  holding  advance- 
ment to  an  arbitrary  standard,  and  stirs  its  sluggish  energies  only 
when  the  murmurs  of  awakened  millions  are  heard  in  royal  pal- 
aces saying  "  We  will  move  on."  Republicanism,  lifting  from  the 
dust  the  interests  of  the  masses,  vitalizes  the  germs  and  invigo- 
rates the  capacities  of  growth,  bearing  out  to  a  rich  and  glori- 
ous maturity  the  innate,  ennobling  tendencies  of  man.  Unfor- 
tunate is  the  people  whose  government  is  unstable  and  oppres- 
sive ;  thrice  unfortunate  those  whose  political  system  is  fixed  and 
liberal,  yet  fallen  into  the  power  of  men  who  imperil  national 
honor  and  basely  betray  public  welfare  to  resurrect  the  ghostly 
anatomy  of  a  defunct  party,  and  turn  to  bitter  curses  the  glad- 
songs  of  a  nation  victorious  through  years  of  battle.  Political 
corruption  is  the  bane  of  democracy,  and  now  needs  no  com- 
ment. Government  intrenched  bv  law  and  custom,  affording 


12  ORATION. 


protection  and  encouragement  to  action  is  a  central  agent  in  the 
order  of  social  development. 

"A  gracious  spirit  o'er  the  earth  presides 

And  o'er  the  heart  of  man ;  invisibly 

It  comes  to  works  of  unreproved  delight, 

And  tendency  benign,  directing  those 

Who  care  not,  know  not,  think  not,  what  they  do." 

Such  is  the  humblest  mission  of  literature.  "Who  shall  measure 
the  power  of  that  simple  emblem— the  letter?  In  its  keeping  is 
the  order  of  events  since  the  world  began  and  the  experience 
which  shall  enlighten  and  guide  the  future.  It  bears  on  untiring 
wings  through  time  and  space  the  messages  of  genuine  talent  and 
labor  to  the  marching  column  of  humanity.  History,  poetry,  phi- 
losophy and  song  are  its  gifts  to  progress,  and  its  harmonies  fill 
the  world.  Literature  is  the  organ  of  general  intelligence-  and  in 
this  relation  is  seen  the  universality  of  its  nature.  It  comes  to 
the  laborer  weary  with  toil,  telling  of  the  scenes  transpiring 
around  him.  In  the  fascination  of  the  story,  the  humor  or  pathos 
of  the  poem,  in  the  wit  and  sarcasm,  fact  and  fancy  of  the  news- 
paper, domestic  trials  are  made  more  easy,  and  domestic  virtues 
more  positive  in  character.  Inquiry  is  aroused,  ambition  stimu- 
lated, ideas  expanded  wherever  the  printed  pages  fall,  and  im- 
pulse is  given  to  intellectual  and  moral  growth.  Popular  educa- 
tion is  the  pledge  of  safety  to  popular  institutions,  and  the,  govern- 
ment is  firmest  the  intelligence  of  which  is  broadest  and  purest. 
Letters  are  the  property  of  all,  the  refined  and  ignorant,  kings 
and  slaves,  reflecting  images  of  social  life,  and  are  general  instruc- 
tors of  priceless  value.  As  in  the  famous  poem  of  Caedmon, 
when  the  Deliverer  reascends  bearing  with  him  redeemed  souls 
from  Adam  to  the  time  of  the  advent,  Eve  lingers  for  a  moment 
to  confess  her  sin,  so  literature  pleads  forgivness  for  its  error  and 
goes  rejoicing  to  its  high  and  holy  calling,  the  culture  of  mind 
and  soul.  Beyond  the  diffusion  of  knowledge,  literature  has  sig- 
nificance and  purpose.  Its  power  is  subjective  and  objective, 
molding  the  inner  and  outer  life  and  carrying  the  whole  man  on- 
ward to  higher  spheres  of  activity  and  advantage.  Whether 
constructing  a  philosophy  from  the  uniform  courses  of  phenomena 
in  the  world  of  being,  thrilling  human  hearts  with  the  matchless 
melodies  of  poetry,  weaving  into  romance  the  tragedy  and  come- 
dy of  human  life,  or  flooding  the  spirit  with  the  light  of  inspira- 
tion, literature  is  the  mirror  of  its  age,  a  Titanic  force  symbolic  of 
social  advancement. 


ORATION.  13 


Such,  in  general  outlines  are  some  of  the  motives  and  influences 
which  govern  society.  The  features  thus  hastily  sketched  are  by 
no  means  exclusive.  In  the  wide  fields  of  commerce,  science,  art 
and  morals,  other  forces  are  at  work  in  silence  developing  in  new 
forms  of  utility,  wisdom,  beauty  and  morality  the  inventive  genius 
of  the  age.  The  final  analysis  of  all  the  elements  in  social  growth 
must  be  the  fruit  of  perfect  civilization  when  humanity  stands 
face  to  face  with  the  sublime  ideal  of  culture  toward  which  it  has 
thus  far  come.  The  mind  seeking  the  specific  order  or  uniform 
results  of  the  social  forces  is  wearied  by  their  confusion  and  at 
different  periods  pursues  new  lines  of  investigation;  Intellect 
wasted  itself  in  dreamy  speculations  until  men  learned  the  signi- 
ficance of  that  simple  utterance,  "Follow  me."  These  words  were 
prophetic  of  a  new  philosophy  teaching  that  there  was  one  force 
in  society  controlling  all  others  and  one  law  for  human  progress. 
The  Bible  is  that  force,  and  Christianity  that  law.  Truth  is  the 
foundation  and  faith  the  superstructure  of  true  civilization.  Gov- 
ernment, literature,  science,  art  and  politics  discipline  the  mental 
powers.  Christianity  is  the  life  of  the  soul ;  its  power  is  resist- 
less, its  eloquence  convictive,  its  logic  unanswerable.  If  the  Alps 
rising  in  cold  and  still  sublimity  are  the  emblem  of  immutability, 
the  ever  restless  ocean  girt  within  the  eternal  laws  of  gravitation 
is  the  symbol  of  Christianity.  When  reason  has  completed  her 
noblest  work,  that  work  is  in  conformity  £b  the  principle  of  in- 
spiration. On  radical  ideas,  in  social  culture,  humanity  is  ever 
coming  nearer  to  agreement.  The  harmony  will  be  perfect  when 
thought,  purpose,  motive  and  effort  recognize  the  grandeur  of 
that  power  which  transcends  all  social  forces,  develops  the  entire 
nature,  and  vindicates  the  supremacy  of  man's  love  of  God  and 
God's  love  of  man,  in  the  historic  progress  of  the  race. 

Into  the  conflict  of  forces  we  are  this  day  come.  Another  rip- 
ple is  breaking  from  the  green  shelving  shore  to  mingle  in  the 
wild  waves  of  human  passion.  Another  strain  is  heard  in  the 
grand  anthem  of  the  ages,  the  melody  of  which  shall  ring  far  down 
the  future.  Purpose  is  the  earnest  of  success,  and  manhood  the 
worth  of  the  individual  life.  These  years  of  discipline  and  cul- 
ture, as  they  float  back  into  history  bear  the  silent  benison  of 
many  hearts,  and  shall  stir  fondest  memories  in  the  times  unborn. 
Nobler  impulse  none  can  need  than  those  words  which  come  to 
us  from  hero  and  martyr  lips,  "I  will."  Strong,  faithful,  hopeful 


14  ORATION. 


in  the  lines  of  action,  we  take  our  places,  cherishing  the  sentiment 
of  Tennyson : 

"Meet  is  it  changes  should  control 
Our  being  lest  we  rest  in  ease, 
We  all  are  changed  by  still  degrees 
All  but  the  basis  of  the  soul. 

E'en  now  we  hear  with  inward  strife 
A  motion  toiling  in  the  gloom 
The  spirit  of  the  years  to  come 
Yearning  to  mix  himself  with  life." 


POEM. 


PHILANTHROPY 


Themes  are  vain  to  charm  these  moments,  for  the  heart  is  loud  with  grief, 
And  the  Muse's  chanson,  surely  cannot  scorn  the  heart's  relief. 
In  the  common  quest  of  knowledge,  more  than  wonted  ties  unite, 
And  four  signal  years  have  sealed  us,  each  to  all,  in  fond  delight. 
Memory  lifts  her  harp,  and  wails  it,  till  its  tones,  so  myriad-souled, 
Voice  with  echoes  all  th'  eternal  bygones  through  her  scenes  of  old; 
Till  now,  echoes  melt  and  mingle,  in  one  dirge-note,  sadly  tolled ; 
While  long  trains  of  bygones  rushing  from  the  haunted  scenes  of  yore, 
Oome  as  thick  as  sunbeams,  gushing  through  Aurora's  opening  door. 
Many  a  time,  when  all  the  moonlit  ah'  was  forming  into  dreams, 
We  have  wandered,  smit  with  fancies,  o'er  the  fields  and  down  the  streams, 
Till  the  liquid  lapse  of  moonbeams,  blent  the  senses,  and  the  mind- 
Found  in  revery  its  moonlight,  a  Chamouni,  myrtle-twined. 
Oft  when  springs  of  life  were  gushing,  in  our  fragrant,  virgin,  May, 
Through  our  blood  we've  felt  their  fullness,  keeping  [forest  Sabbath-day, 
While  the  strength  of  all  these  mountains  wedded  ours  in  spells  unknown, 
While  we've  felt  the  heart  of  Nature  throbbing  strong  beneath  our  own. 
Thus,  mid  "fairy  tales  of  science,"  charming  well  these  halcyon  scenes, 
Our  best  years  of  life  have  vanished,  like  remembered  morning  dreams. 
And  to-day  the  barks  we've  buildcd  launch  upon  life's  tossing  sea, 
While  mid  chrysins  of  hope  and  memory,  present  moments  cease  to  be. 


16  POEM. 


Fond,  foolish  tears  force  out  their  willful  way, 
Tears  from  some  deep  immortal  fount  of  woe, 
Warm  from  the  heart,  and  melted  from  the  soul, 
In  musing  o'er  days  of  ult  might  have  been." 

Ah !  June  grows  Autumn  through  the  veins,  in  thought 
Of  yesterdays  of  hope,  divinely  sad 
As  the  strong  smitten  note  that  breaks  the  chord. 
The  past  visits  the  heart  a  shipwrecked  bell 
On  which  the  surge  tolls  its  own  dirge  alone, 
In  counting  o'er  days  of  "It  might  have  been." 

Oh,  hopeless  lovei  as  balm-dews  from  the  breast 
Of  Hesper  slide  upon  a  parent's  grave. 
Oh,  wordless  melody !  when  music  tones 
Too  infinitely  sad  for  tongue  to  wed ; . 
When  great  emotions,  with  discordant  sweep, 
Jar  all  the  soul's  rich  diapason  deep. — 
Fresh  as  the  sunrise  crowns  the  mountain's  crest, 
Sad  as  the  lingering  day  like  incense  climbs 
To  cloud-life,  dream  days  of  "It  might  have  been." 

Cease, — such  a  charming  syren  is  the  past, 
That  now  'tis  hero-wise  to  seal  our  ears, 
Unveil  the  fore-face  of  this  Janus  day. 
Let  every  milestone  forth  a  beacon  light, 
And  make  the  past  our  future  where  it  erred. 
Thus  fused  by  secret  potency  of  tears 
We  wisely  may  remould  regrets,  and  hopes, 
And  life  itself,  into  one  purpose  stanch, 
That,  with  a  cynosure  of  light  divine, 
Shall  guide  these  barks  safe  to  a  goodly  haven. 

Bid  we  then  the  joys  of  yore 
Meet  us  on  the  yonder  shore, 
Where  the  clouds  that  darken  here, 
Shall  forever  disappear ; 
Where  the  sunlight  blest  and  sheen, 
Sleeps  on  hills  of  living  green- 
Close  the  portals  of  the  past 
On  the  present,  till  at  last. 


POEM.  17 

Toil  aud  earth  be  overpassed. 
Most  we'll  smile  when  best  we  know 
Why  joys  brighten,  as  they  go ; 
Opening  lights  from  Paradise 
Flow  about  them ;  there  they'll  rise, . 
To  our  ravished  spirit  eyes. 
Toward  the  future  once  again, 
Turn  we  to  our  duty  then, 
This, — to  love  our  fellow  men. 

I  hold  dying,  and  not  living,  as  the  charter  of  this  sphere ; 
And  the  world  a  reef-set  passage,  parting  joy  from  nameless  fear. 
All  along,  in  ebbing  eddies,  wrecked  and  stranded  manhood  lies ; 
And  the  wrecker,  death,  is  gloating  well  his  ears  with  dying  cries. 
Wayworn,  broken-hearted  toilers  yield  them  to  the  current's  will. 
Till  the  under-world  of  silence,  rest  them  with  a  '-peace  be  still." 
Scared  by  every  venomed  evil,  loathsome  with  unseemly  sin, 
Myriad  souls  are  tombed,  untimely,  in  the  flesh  that  hems  them  in ; 
Far  beyond  all  stretch  of  Mercy,  death  in  life,  a  walking  grave  :— 
While  the  day-born  brood  of  folly,  careless  what  the  ages  crave, 
Sink  in  pleasure  like  a  song  bird  charmed  to  love  the  serpent's  jaws, 
Oh!  the  sin-embittered  Marah,  of  unknown  or  slighted  laws. 
Oh !  the  life  earth  yearly  squanders,  might  awake  the  millenial  morn ; 
And  the  Xation  quails  at  forethought,  while  each  day  new  wrath  is  born. 
While  the  fortune-jilted  languish,  sore  of  heart  and  sorrow-rife ; 
While  the  world  undoes  its  portals,  hungering  for  the  bread  of  life; 
While  unnumbered  minds  are  yearning  alter  truths  unkened  alone ; 
While  God's  image  age  is  broken  into  gods  of  wood  and  stone ; 
Roars  for  us  the  seaward  blast,  echoes  again  our  natal  hour; 
When  like  Christ  strong  from  the  desert,  i>:e  may  use  heavens  healing 

power. 

All  the  malisons  of  evil,  with  all  benisons  of  good, 
Wrestle  for  the  new  commandment,  like  old  pagans  for  God's  ark; 
Love  is  mighty;  and  when  earthborn,  makes  the  wealth  of  heaven  it* 

food ; 

But  when  lit  from  Calvary  presses  manhood  upward  to  its  mark. 
He  whose  life  flows  out  in  loving,  is  a  martyr  for  the  pure, 
A  Samaritan  to  suffering,  and  a  Christian  to  the  poor, 
Casts  his  bread  upon  the  waters,  makes  the  chastening  rod  to  bloom. 


18  POEM. 


Shows  affliction  that  the  Saviour  in  the  furnace  shares  its  doom, 
Gives  the  holy  cup  of  water,  scatters  smiles,  and  ushers  peace. — 
Deep  so  e'er  he  toil  in  darkness,  wears  a  glory  ne'er  shall  cease. 
Though  Prometheus-like  he  suffer,  when  earth's  sixty-fold  is  rept, 
Precious  sheaves  shall  show  unnumbered  how  his  stewardship  was  kept. 
When  he  wears  the  almond  blossom,  losing  life,  he'll  find  its  birth, 
Angel  stars  again  shall  sing,  lo !  Jleai-cn  has  stocked  to  kiss  the  earth. 

'The  love  of  truth, 
All  for  its  own  sweet  sake, 

Unseals  in  man  an  endless  springing  fount  of  youth. 
Oh !  he  may  partake 
The  wisdom  of  the  spheres, 
As  the  rapt  seraph  hears. 

In  countless  throng, 
The  distant  choiring  stars 
Shout  through  the  ages  their  old  morning  song. 

And  thus  secure 
In  his  own  immortality ; 

And  made  pure 
By  the  prevailing  God-thought. 

From  all  dross  of  self; 

When  he  too  unbars 

The  gates  of  flesh, 
He  is  like  one  who  greets  afresh 
The  scene  of  night-long  dreams. 
Where  all  his  vision  seems 
A  glory-smitten  memory. 

Spangled  with  dawn. 

But  above  all, 

He  who  is  drawn   . 

To  listen  at  the  threshhold  of  truth's  council  hall, 
•  And  chicles  tlie  bustling  throng. 
With  Horns'  only  song 

Of  "Hush,  all  Hush;" 
Who  loves  and  burns  like  Pysche  unawares, 

Yet,  while  he  thrills  with  blush  on  blush 
At  the  half  silent  whisperings  within. 
Mingles  with  men  and  sin, 
And  works  as  erst  he  sang. 


Full  well  aware, 
That  lloreb's  still  small  voice 
Will  thrill  the  "peace  on  earth"  he  must  prepare, — 
Is  a  philanthropist ; 
And  like  that  Grecian  sage, 
Sitting  alternate  days  in  courts  of  Heaven ; 

Who,  in  an  evil  age, 

First  brought  down  truth  from  Gods  to  men; 
For.  like  the  sun,  true  wisdom  lives  by  shining. 

Such  generous  love 
Js  Ajax'  prayer  for  light 

Sent  from  above, 
To  aid  the  hallowed  rite 
Of  deathless  conquering  friendship. 
To  him  creation  wakes  again. 

For  seeming  discord 
Spheres  itself  to  a  full  orbed  strain 
Divine  of  order ;    Xatures  every  tongue 
Translates  to  his.  the  meanings  they  have  strung 
The  ill-tuned  earth  to ;.  while  to  hearts  that  beat 
With  kindred  transports,  truth  is  doubly  sweet. 

But  the  misanthrope,  in  whose  misered  mind, 
A  selfish  greed  hides  what  should  bless  mankind; 
Sick  of  his  human  though  cachectic  heart, 
Would  spew  it  out,  and  bid  all  love  depart  :— 
Like  Faust,  who,  for  the  all-sonled  love  he  bore 
Himself,  loathed  all  the  world  he  loved  before:— 
Who  seeks  truth  backward  with  such  zest  as  one, 
P>y  studying  shadows,  seeks  to  ken  the  sun:— 
Chills  social  faith,  and  breeds  distrust  in  man 
And,  cursed  with  knowledge,  aids  what  hell  began. 
Xo  skeptic's  faith,  but  staunch  beliefs  I  praise, 
Give  me  a  manhood  ripened  in  the  rays 
Of  a  fond,  earnest  heart,  and  it  shall  prove 
A  life  Of  Christian  charity  and  love, 
Crowned  with  the  dignity  that  virtues  move. 
The  sudden  transport,  the  enraptured  heart, 
The  homoly  sympathy  that  can  impart 


20  POEM. 


The  rich  simplicity  our  natures  need, 
Are  the  fair  "blossoms  of  an  active  creed. 

But  beshrew  alike  bigots  and  cynics  and  doubt, 
Truth,  virtue  and  happiness,  live  all  about, 
In  ways  their  denyers  can  never  find  out. 
All  crusted  with  mystery,  scaling,  by  heart, 
Hights  mind  never  reaches,  where  sense  has.no  part, 
27ifyken  truth,  duty.  God,  in  each  various  mode, 
And  are  fate-sure  of  heaven,  though  far  out  of  the  road. 
Faith  can  bolt  every  .error,  affinity  reigns, 
And  desire  make  up  duty  of  sensuous' gains. 
For  them,  earth  is  all  right  if  quacks  let  it  alone. 
Man  can  light  his  own  way  in  some  free-Love's  sweet  home. 
Or,  dealers  in  shadows  where  forms  are  required. 
They  keep  sleepless  vigils  where  hope  has  expired. 
Like  its  spectres,  and  gloat  over  folly  and  crime ; 
All  the  world  is  depraved,  .and  their  lives  out  of  time. 
Faith  loves  like  a  night-bird  the  gathering  shades 
For  its  daylight  begins  when  the  sunshine  all  fades ; 
Pure  and  chill  are  the  currents  that  feeling  supplies. 
Their  devotional  life  is  a  long  bridge  of  sighs. 
Well  society  rates  those  the  worst  kind  of  bores. 
Who,  when  called  on  for  beauty,  straight  open  their  sores. 

Then  let  us  smile,  while  cheerful  song,  beguiling 

Our  winged  hours  of  bliss,  in  bowers  of  May, 
Wakes,  as  it  breaks  o'er  lakes  of  azure,  smiling 

O  7 

Whose  dimpled  beauty  shoots  a  lovelier  ray. 

Oh !  let  us  live  and  love,  for  we  are  proving 

The  creed,  indeed,  of  heeding  what  is  fair ; 
So  we  must  grow  to  know  what  is  behooving 

The  laureates  of  beauty  everywhere. 

And  all  the  earth  is  fair,  where  spring  is  wearing 

Charms,  Art's  bavuras  lure  us  with  in  vain; 
Where  dewy-fingered  dawn  is  deftly  sharing 

The  choicest  crystal  beauties  it  can  feign. 

Though  memory's  Autumn  hues  our  trust  are  trying, 


POEM.  21 


Fair ;  though  God's  rainbow,  painted  in  the  sky, 
Shattered  o'er  frost-fringed  streams  and  groves  were  lying, 
Dashed,  in  its  broken  promise,  from  on  high. 

Well  our  theme  might  count  its  trophies  all  about  our  college  halls ; 

While  the  lyre  they  sprung  t<»  echoes,  best  should  ring  these  eager  walls. 

He  loves  truth  and  manhood  justly,  who  would  wed  their  dignity, 

And  th't  Almu  .Mater's  void  WICKS,  adds  the  in  sano  corpore.. 

Our  slow  years  are  lately  learning  that  the  precious  wine  is  spilled, 

If  the  crysral  eup  is  broken;  that  Till  harmony  is  chilled 

If  one  chord  jars ;  and  that  flesh* should  not  be  worn  a  Xessus'  shirt ; 

Nor  is  mind  a  leech  to  bleed  us ;  nor  ten-pins  a  vice  to  hurt. 

Truth  now,   trenched  in  good  sound  earthworks,   Boanerges-wise  is 

strong; 
Two  decked  manhood,  armed  and  furnished,  waits  to  cruise  against  all 

wrong. 

All  we  wish  our  noble  patron  who  has  reared  this  fane  to  health, 
Is,  to  share  tlie  strength  and  freshness,  happy  days,  and  all  their  Wealth, 
We  are  blessed  with  in  receiving,  and  in  giving  may  he  find, 
That  the  go.-pel  biasing  means  he  shall  be  blessed  with  more  in  kind. 

Through  our  land  truth  ne'eds  no  pension,  but  finds  free  support 

from  love; 

Like  the  Amaranth,  ^springing  from  the  soil  of  heaven,  and  thus  we  move 
\>Iou<r  the  springs  where  thirsting  minds  quaff  priceless  draughts  they 

could  not  buy, — 

By  the  love,  we  bear  our  College,  may  those  fountains  ne'er  run  dry. 
All  whose  lives  How  out  for  others,  sowing  seed  that  heaven  shall  reap ; 
Building  on  rejected  stones,  and  laboring  for  the  straying  sheep, 
Sure  are  blessed,  if  seeking  only,  here,  the  boon  none  can  deny,— 
Thanks  like  ours  to  those  whose  lives  we  reproduce  and  multiply. 

Christian  charity  is  richest  where  the  largest  evils  move ; 
Widening  social  sins  and  sufferings  rouse  more  ardent  works  of  love. 
Poverty,  the  grave  of  virtue,  pawns  too  oft  the  livelihood  . 
Of  the  soul  to  save  the  body ;  few  can  martyrs  be  for  good. 
Air  the  world  is  headlong  driving  thousands  to  this  gate  of  sin; 
Cheating  traffic  hoards  what  arts  from  ignorance  or  weakness  win. 
E'en  the  State  whose  loose-worn  moorings,  do  our  "free  and  equal" 
wrong, 


22  POEM. 


Xot  content  to  clear  the  way,  and  leave  the  battle  to  the  strong, 

Entertains  some  lordly  interests,  and  on  others  bolts  the  door, 

And,  between  trade's  cruel  millstones,  grinds  the  faces  of  the  poor. 

Whoso  tempers  this  oppression,  does  all  charities  in  one, 

Others  feed  and  clothe  the  needy,  he  makes  need  wellnigh  unknown. 

For  where  toil  unloaded  gathers  its  fair  produce  into  store, 

Our  air  gives  the  blood  a  friction  that  warms  all  to  live— and  more. 

Poverty's  embargoes  lightened,  there  shall  kindle  into  day, 

From  that  sovereign  hour  all  manhood  that  has  quenched  itself  in  clay.— 

Shall  the  Muse  now  hush  her  theme,  nor  mark  what  echoes  here  are 

made? 

Let  her  rather  proudly  hail  our  strong  apostle  of  free  trade. 
Through  these  long  years  we  have  seen  him  trim  his  midnight  lamp  with 

love ; 

Till  a  brighter  day  is  breaking,  when  the  land  his  work  shall  prove. 
Well  in  hand  with  our  great  poet,  they  would  make  all  markets  throng 
While  each  realm  and  man  in  concert,  toils  where  Nature  made  them 

strong ; 

Their  great  cause  shall  waft  the  nations,  where  the  poet's  vision,  furled, 
Finds  its  "Parliament  of  man,"  its  "Federation  of  the  world." 

Yet  one  cause  our  Muse  is  wearing,  an  aureole  'round  her  brow. 
Seals  Inimanuel  to  the  faithful,  and,  to  speed  on  heaven  below, 
Builds  its  home  in  exile,  reaping  where  the  harvest  ripens  most, 
Paves  the  darkness  for  Christ's  advent,  With  the  light  that  sin  had  lost ; 
All  the  mission  spirit  sheds  its  choicest  influences  here, 
Independent  toilers  soon  shall  spread  it  through  its  hemisphere ; 
While  afar,  the  Cross  is  beaming  o'er  the  tottering  thrones  .of  night. 
And  the  pagan  world  at  gaze  finds  peace  and  mercy  in  its  light. 
Well  such  holy  cause  should  prosper  under  his  controlling  rod, ' 
Who  first  taught  how  love  to  others  is  triune  to  Self  and  God ; 
Shall  we  wrong  thee;  though  we  weakly  echo  back  our  hearts  in  song 
From  whose  truth,  all  Pallas-armed,  springs  many  a  champion  conquer- 
ing wrong? 

Yet,  all  choral  chaplets  we  could  wreathe  for  thee 
Would  add  scarce  one  leaf  to  the  Amaranth  tree 

Of  thy  large  fame ; 

But  o'er  us  shall  beam  with  a  mild  stellar  ray, 
Till  all  crescent  stars  melt  into  one  endless  day, 

Our  President's  name. 


POEM.  23 

Echoing  down  the  memories  of  this  hour. 
The  din  of  battle  dies  along  the  years ; 
And  peace  in  zones  of  placid  azure  smiles 
Through  all  her  arts,  on  man  no  more  oppressed. 
Love  sent  its  legion  angel  messengers 
To  follow  justice,  and  bind  up  its  wounds, 
And  now,  all  thronging  white-winged  charities 
Guard  new  born  freedom  with  a  Christian  heart. 
Why !  eveiy  cannon-peal  brought  mercy-showers ; 
Love  loaned  of  heaven,  and  conquered  death  and  war. 
Oh !  what  an  hour  for  faith,  when  three  years  reap 
The  toil  of  thirty ;  when  times  sturdy  bough, 
Whereon  bloomed  all  our  father's  precious  hopes, 
Fertile  by  martyrs,  and  war-shaken,  showers 
Its  slow  ripe  century-fruit  while  we  pass  by. 
Xo  partisan  can  love  our  country  now, 
For  he  who  loves  a  land  that  breeds  up  men, 
Is  a  philanthropist  in  being  patriot. 

But,  signal-moments  beating,  thrilling  through  our  breaking  rhyme. 
Rally  us  for  parting,  with  the  latest  word  of  time ; 
Hearts  like  vesper  bells  are  swelling,  with  a  sad  farewell; 
Tears  that  haze  the  future,  lend  the  past  a  double  spell ; 
May  its  wisdom  brighten  o'er  us,  and,  illuming  all  our  days, 
Light  us  on  in  loving,  through  lifes  devious  ways ; 
While  all  resolves  are  quickened  to  achieve  the  highest  meed 
By  some  strong  and  mailed  purpose,  from  pur  world-embracing  creed ; 
And,  brothers  by  a  tie  words  cannot  tell. 
May  love's  and  memory's  wisdom  guide  us  well 
Through  lifes  brief  boyhood,  to  a  widening  ken, 
Till  earth's  great  class-day  graduate  us,  MEX. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


44 


L ft 


1  s  1962 


LD  21A-50m-8,'61 
(Cl795slO)476B 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


Binder 
Gaylord  Bros. 

Makers 
1     Stockton,  Calif. 

PAT.  JAN.  21.  1908 


YC  07577 


588867 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


